PIA Press Release2006/10/26

Support for Government Compensation and Classification Act sought

San Fernando, Pampanga (26 October) -- The Civil Service Commission (CSC) initiated a signature campaign nationwide to support the immediate passage of the Government Compensation and Classification Act (GCA), a draft bill to rationalize and update the current compensation and position classification system in government.

The CSC, according to Regional Director Karin Litz Serna, believes that all government workers stand to gain from the approval of the GCA as it shall apply to constitutional bodies, departments, bureaus and agencies of the national government, state universities and colleges, government owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) and government financial institutions (GFIs) with original charters.

In recognition of the autonomy of the Local Government Units (LGUs) as provided for in the Local Government Code, the GCA, according to Serna, shall not dictate on the compensation of their employees. The LGUs, however, may pattern their compensation structure on the GCA structure within their fiscal capability.

Serna added that the uniformed personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) and all other agencies which adopted RA 6638 and RA 6648, as amended, are not covered in the GCA.

She enjoins government employees to affix their signatures on the sign-up forms available in CSC regional and field offices and other government offices. Further, groups and associations can make their support for the GCA felt by attending committee hearings on the GCA and other proposals for salary increases in government.

Serna emphasized that key sectors, like teachers and health workers, who stand to benefit the most from the GCA, can also get their voices heard by writing to their senators and congressmen to facilitate its passage.

The CSC regional and field offices nationwide have been collecting signatures from all government workers to support the approval of the GCA as they stand to benefit from its passage and implementation. (CSC III and PIA-Pampanga) [top]